Gardenscape Thanks

Gardenscape is an event all of us enjoy escaping to at this time of year. For organizations like ours, its a terrific way to let folks in the community know about who we are and what we do. With the help of many hardworking members,RCGC won the best educational non profit award for our exhibit. We couldn't have done it without the help of Bob and Carolyn McKee,who spent countless hours unearthing pots, plants and furniture from their home and schlepping them to our booth. We can't thank them enough for their help and great ideas. Additional thanks to Nellie Gardner, Amy Semple, Pat McCandlish and Milli Piccione for helping us to tweak it all up. Bristol’s Garden Center and Palmiter’s Nursery generously provided us withe some terrific plants- a special thank you to them and to the many other volunteers for manning the exhibit over the weekend. Many hands make light work-we couldn't have done this without you.

Visit the library

This is the time of year when you can cozy up with a good book-guilt free. The RCGC library is open all year Tuesday-Thursday, 9am-4pm. During the months of January, February and March it is also open on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays from 9:30am-12:30pm (in the fall we will have Saturday hours again). Everyone may visit and use the library. RCGC members may check out books, or you can get a library-only membership for $5 a year which will allow you to check out books. Our catalogue can be viewed on our website, http://www.rgc.org/.

Restoring the Ceiling

They are putting up the finished pieces now, almost done. We will miss them - what a treat to watch these craftsmen at work! The restored ceiling is beautiful.

Molding the Pieces

First they applied a liquid rubber compound to pieces of the original moldings.














Then the rubber molds were imbedded into more plaster inside a wooden frame and new pieces were cast.

Mike and Fritz are at it again

Many of you might remember Mike and Fritz-they are the masons who repointed the castle's limestone walls this summer. We are blessed with their presence once more as they repair the ceiling in the Great Room. It is a fascinating process to watch as they remove the old damaged plaster and cast new molds in their basement work room. Soon, they'll be fitting them back together and the ceiling will be restored to its' former elegance.

Is it spring yet?

Iris reticulata is one of my favorite early spring bulbs, but as I'm looking out at the snow and lusting for color I'm appreciating them even more in my kitchen window. They are easy to force, requiring a cooling period of about 8 weeks. I potted these up after teaching a class on forcing bulbs class last fall, put them in the garage to cool and promptly forgot all about them. I found them a couple of weeks ago and brought them inside-there are rewards to being forgetful. Next year I plan to have lots more.

Who says you can't have flowers in the winter? Forcing branches from your flowering trees and shrubs is a cheap and easy way to get a flower fix. I started these just before Christmas and I'm about to be rewarded with lilac and rhododendron blooms. Come learn how to do it next Saturday January 30th at our 3rd annual Seed and Houseplant Swap 9:45am-12:30pm.